Production in France: the comeback?

After a period when a large number of French factories were relocated outside France, it seems that the tendency is being reversed, and French industrialists are starting to reconsider their home country as a site for industrial production. One-third of Renault’s manufacturing activity now takes place in France, however over the past ten years Renault cut production at its Douai factory by two-thirds and sharply decreased its workforce. Since then, Renault has signed an agreement to improve its competitiveness in France. The Group’s strategy is to strengthen its investments in its French sites, and it intends to significantly increase production volumes by 2017. The Douai factory intends to be Renault’s showcase for new product ranges, innovation, stricter quality requirements, increased productivity, a new social contract, and partnerships with the best in the field. After several years during which Renault’s growth was primarily generated by its international production, the Douai factory is showing how the future of an historical manufacturer can also depend on its place of origin.